Loudon County candidates stress finances

LOUDON — When Loudon County Mayor Estelle Herron ran for the county’s top office in 2010, there was only one issue on the table.

Voters wanted the school building program funded. Shortly after the election, the County Commission passed a 20-cent property tax increase to finance more than $44 million for new schools. “Commission and the school board came together to do the right thing,” Herron said.
 

Just about every candidate interviewed at a recent meet-and-greet sponsored by the Loudon Chamber of Commerce said the big issue in 2014 is how the county is going to pay for its future commitments.